The lack of laws protecting interns from exploitation has left millions of young Americans without options; it doesn’t matter what the definition of a “journalist” is, just that all acts of journalism are protected; meanwhile, as tea partyers attack Obamacare, why is no one in Congress talking about Medicare’s benefits? These discoveries and more after the jump.

A new report from the Economic Policy Institute finds broad collusion among business groups and state-level Republican Party officials to shrink private-sector labor costs—and undercut working America. The issues include finagling laws to give high schoolers more work hours and lower wages and radically expanding the Tennessee labor bureaucracy tightening access to unemployment payments.

In a couple of special elections for congressional seats, traditional big business backers of the Republican Party are investing heavily in primary campaigns to try to grab the steering wheel from the tea party. How successful they are could have broad repercussions for how Washington works, and for the nation.

It’s no secret voter ID laws were drafted with minorities in mind, but they’re not the only ones who could have their voice suppressed by such legislation. This fall in Texas, women may also face difficulties exercising their right to vote.